The Ministry of Defense has asked the vendors for the IAF’s MMRCA tender to either renew their existing commercial bids or submit fresh bids altogether, as the original bids are to expire on Wednesday.

The serial commandeering of Indian dhows by pirates in the Arabian Sea around the Gulf of Aden recently, has put the focus on the vulnerability of these vessels to hijack, especially with their flagrant flouting of guidelines, which also facilitates the endangering of other innocent shipping.